Combined daylight and illuminated sign



June 23, 1931. A. o. KELLOGG 1,311,053

COMBINED DAYLIGHT AND ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed Sept. 8, 1928 2Sheets-Sheet l June 23, 1931; A. o. KELLOGG COMBINED DAYLIGHT ANDILLUMINATED SIGN Filed Sept. 8, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 23,1931 UNITED STATES ALFRED o. KELLOGG, or PELHAM MANOR, new YORK COMBINEDDAYLI G-HT AND ILLUMINATED SIGN Application filed September s, 1928.Serial No. 304,721.

My present invention relates to combined day and night signs,particularly electrically illuminated signs which are adapted to servewith equal effectiveness as signs by day and also by night, and aims todevise signs of the general character designated which are simple inconstruction, which may be simply and economically fabricated andassembled, which are highly effective, both by day and by night, andwhich, in certain of their embodiments, make use of one or more shiftingor fluctuating colors or color combinations, thus producing novel andarresting effects rendering the signs of the present inventionparticularly useful and efiective for advertising purpose s. Otherobjects and advantages of the devices, of the present invention will inpart be pointed out in detail hereinafter and will in'part be obvious tothose skilled in the art to which the present invention relates.

' In the accompanying specification I shall describe, and in the annexeddrawing show,

an illustrative embodiment of the present invention'. It is, however, tobe clearly understood that my invention is not limited to the specificembodiment thereof herein shown an]d described for purposes ofillustration on y. 1 I Referring to the drawings, in 'which- I haveshown the aforesaid illustrative embodiment of the present invention:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view'of the assembled device constituting suchembodiment;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the same taken along line 2-2 ofFig. 3 of the drawmg Fig. 3 is a lon itudinal sectional view of .thedevice as a w ole;

Fig. i is a plan view of one of the socket bases embodying one form oflightshifting or light-fluctuating device; and v Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview of the sign plate proper, one end of the paster forming a part ofsuch sign plate being shown lifted away from the glass or equivalentsupport to make its construction clearer.

Referring now to the, aforesaid illustrative embodiment of the presentinvention, and with particular-reference to'the draw ings illustratingthe same, 10 indicates, generally, the housing for the sign, thishousing consisting, for example, of a box-like structure having thebottom portion 11' and the end walls 12 and 13. The end'walls 12 and 13are preferably somewhat tapered at their upper ends, here generallydesignated by reference character 14:, for cooperation with the otherportions of the housing now to be described. 15 indicates the lower back.por-

tion of the housing. The parts 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 thus fardescribedmay be made of wood or other suitable material and assembled inany desired manner, as, will be readily apparent to those skilledin'the'art to which the present invention relates.

Cooperating with the parts of the housing thus far described is a frontportion 16 below which is defined an opening 17 through which the signproper is displayed in a manner which will shortly be described. .18indicates the top of the housing, the same being preferably providedwith a series 19 of ventila ting apertures,,the top 18 being hinged at20to the upper back portion .31 which is in turn hinged at 22 to the lowerbackportion 15. Means, generally designated by reference character, 28andcomprising, for example, a hook 2a pivot-ally attached to the v edgeof the top portion 18 and an eyelet 25 fixedly positioned in the frontportion 16, may be provided for keeping the top portion 18 and the upperback portion 21 in close-cl position during the use of the sign.

Thesign plate proper, here'generally designated' by reference character26, may be made in various manners. I prefer, however, to make the samesubstantially as follows: 27 indicates a plate of glass or equivalentmaterial. -If glass is used,I may use either opalescent, frosted, groundor stippled glass. Associated with the glass or equivalent support 27 isa paster 28 preferably inthe form of a thin paper sign printed inreverse, that is, having a series of letters or other representations 29left white in translucent'or transparent form on a black field generallydesignated by reference charactor 30. The paster or paper sign 28 may bepastedonto the glass or equivalent su porting plate 27 by a thin pastesolution or by means of any other suitable adhesive.

The sign 26 may be inserted into the housing 10 and suitably supportedtherein by means of the slot or channels 31 and 32 with which the endwalls 12 and Y13 are respectively provided. However, any other suitablemeans may be employed for suitably positioning and supporting the'sign26.

Forming a part of the device is a mirror here generally designated byreference character 33. The mirror is intended to receive lighttransmitted throughthe sign 26 from the illuminating system generallydesignated by reference character 34-; The mirror 33 should be ofsuchdimensions as to receive with ample margins the image from the sign26 and to deliver the same to the eye of the observer at a convenientangle, depending upon the angle of incidence of the line of vision ofthe observer onto the mirror 33, in accordance with well-known opticalprinciples which need not be discussed here and which are familiar tothose skilled in the art to which the present invention relates. V

Coming now to the lighting system 34, I may use for the same one or morelamps, preferably electric bulbs of the usual sort, in one or morecolors, preferably a plurality of colors, such as three colors. As moreclearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, I have employed three suchelectric lamps, generally designated by reference characters 35, 36 and37, of which one of. the lamps, such as the lamp 35, may be red, anotherof the lamps, such as the lamp 36, may be blue, and the remaining lamp37 may be of still another color, such as green. The lamps 35,

36 and 37 may be suitably connected, as in parallel, by means of thewires 38 and 39 and the sockets 40, 41 and 42, respectively, with acable43 connected with a plug or other suitable connection device, not heredeemed necessary to be shown, for connection with the usual electricallighting system of the structure in which the sign is to be employed. Itmay here be stated that I may provide additional ventilating apertures21 in the upper back portion 21 for ventilating the portion of thestructurein which the illuminating system 34 is located, since, as willbe readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the presentinvention relates, such-illuminating system generates heat and it is onthe ha is of the heat generated, in one form of the invention, that theshifting or fluctuating lighting effects are obtained.

Referring now'to Fig. 40f the drawings in which I have illustrated oneof the lamp sockets, such as the socket 40, l i indicates supportingbase made of suitable insulating material carrying the usual threadedsocket member 45 having the spring contact 46 con nected with one of thewires, such as the wire 38. The socket portion 45 is itself connectedwith the remaining wire 39 by means of a thermostatic contact generallydesignated by reference character 4.7. The arrangement is such that asthe temperature generatedby the bulb 35 varies beyond a certain point,either high or low, as the case may be, the circuit, through the lamp iseither made or broken, as desired.

It may here be stated that other means for producing a shifting ,orfluctuating light effect for each ofthe electric lamps 35, 36 and 37, ortheir equivalents, may be utilized. It may here also be stated that inorder to get the greatest variety of color combinations and effects, thethermostatic contacts for the sockets l0, l1 different temperatures orfor different temperature anges so that the bulbs are on at differenttimes and for different lengths of time. This will bring the utmostvariation into the illur inating system and produce the greatest varietyof color effects. By way of xplanation, it may here be stated that thethermostatic contact 47 comprises the substantially fixed contact 47 andthe variable contact 47, each of these carrying a contact point, nothere deemed necessary to be shown, which, by their contact, close theCllClllb through the particular electric light bulb and by their comingout of contact, break such circuit.

This completes the description of the construction of the aforesaidillustrative embodiment of the present invention. The manner ofassembling such embodiment will, it is believed, fully appear from theforegoing description. The mode of use and operation of such embodimentwill likewise, it is believed, fully appear from the foregoingdescription but may be briefly summarized as follows: After thepastel-28 has been applied to the ground glass 27, the sign. is readyfor insertion in the housing by means of the slots 31 and 32. It mayhere be stated that new or additional pasters may be readily applied bythe removal of the original paster 28, thus rendering it possible tochange the reading of the sign readily and in a very simple manner. Thisis a feature of great importance in adapting the [sign for a widevariety of uses.

Assuming now that the parts 35, 36 and 37 are red, blue and green,respectively, and that the thermostatic contacts of the sockets d0, 41and 42 are set so as to open and close at different temperatures and atdifferent time intervals, the illuminating system 34: requires merely tobe connect-ed with the housing or other lightin circuit by means of asuitable plug or equivalent connecting device in amanner which will bereadily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the presentinvention relates.

and 42'may be set for.

Thereupon the lights 85, 36 and 37 will be ,on at different times andfor different time intervals, sometimes separately, sometimes twotogether in varying combinations, and sometimes all three together. Thetime intervals will vary almost indefinitely due to the changingtemperature conditions as a result of the unequal intervals during whichthe lamps 85, SGand 37 are respectively illuminated. The varying lighteffects thus produced are transmitted through the sign 28 and reflectedin the mirror 33 at such an angle as to most eflectively reach the eyeof the beholder.

This completes the description of the mode of use and operation of theaforesaid illustrative embodiment of the present invention.v It will benoted that such embodiment is simple in construction and may beconveniently, economically and effectively fabricated, assembled andutilized. Signs may be changed at-Will and modified in a very simple andeffective manner. Analmost endless variety of color combinations isrendered possible by means of the present invention. At the. same timethe sign is almost as effective by day as it is by night and otherwiseis admirably adapted for the purposes for whichit is intended. Othersuperiorities and advantages of the devices of the present invention,particularly as exemplified in the aforesaid illustrative embodiment ofthe same, will readily occur to those skilled in the art to whichtheipresent invention relates.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A sign comprising a translucent glass or equivalent supporting platein combination with an opaque paper or equivalent paster adhesivelycarried by said plate and bearing a transparent legend thereon soarranged as to CQUSGQH inverse image of the legend on a mirror, alighticausing saic image, said light coming from the opposite side ofthe plate from the mirror, and being of a plurality of irregularlychanging colors.

2. 'A' sign comprising a translucent glass or equivalent supportingplate in combination with an opaque paper or equivalent pastoradhesively carried by said plate and bearing a transparent legendthereon so arranged as to cause an inverse image of the legend on amirror, a light causing said image, said light coming from the oppositeside of the plate from the mirror, and being of a pluralityvofthermostatically changing colors. l

3. A combined electrically illuminated day and night sign comprising, incombination, a housing, a translu'cent sign carried by said housing andcomprising a trans lucent glass or equivalent supporting plate and anopaque paper or equivalent paster carried by said plate and bearing a.transparent legend thereon, electric illuminating means within saidhousing for transmitting light consisting of aplurality of distinctirregularly changing colors through said translucent sign and a mirrorso disposed within said housing as to refiectlight transmitted throughsaid translucent sign to the eye of an outside observer.

4. A combined electrically illuminated day and night sign comprising, incombination, a housing, atranslucent sign carried by said housing andcomprising a translucent glass or equivalent supporting plate and anopaque paper or equivalent paster carried by said plate and'bearing atransparent legend thereon, electric illuminating means within saidhousing for-transmitting light consisting of a plurality of distinctcolors through said translucent sign, and a mirror so disposed Withinsaid housing as to reflect light transmitted through said translucentsign to the eye of an outside observer, said electric illuminating meanscomprising a plurality of thermostaticallycontrolledelectric lightingunits.

'5. A combined electrically illuminated day and night sign comprising,in combination, a housing, a translucent sign carried by said housingand comprising a translucent glass or equivalent supporting plate and anopaque paperi or equivalent pastor carried by said plate and bearing atransparent legend thereon, electric illuminating means within saidhousing for transmitting light consisiting of a plurality of distinctcolors through said translucent si n,and a mirror so disposed Withinsaid housing as to refleet light transmitted through said translucentsign to the eye of an outside observer, said electric illuminating meanscomprising a plurality of thermostatically controlled electric lightingunits. V A combined electrically illuminated day and night signcomprising, in'combination, a housing,--a translucent sign carried bysaid housing and comprising a translucent glass or equivalentsupportingplateand an opaque paperor equivalent 'paster carried by saidplate and bearing a transparent legend thereon, electric illuminatingmeans Within said housing iEor transmitting light consisting of aplurality of distinct colors through said translucent sign, and a mirrorso 7 disposed within said housing as to reflect light transmittedthrough said translucent sign to the eye of an outside observer,saidelectric illuminating means comprising a plurality of electric lightingunits of different colors and means for separately regulating. the "flowof current t'o each of said electric lighting units.

. 7.- A- combined electrically illuminated day and night'signcomprising, in combina tion, a housing, atranslucent sign carried bysaid housing and. comprising a translucent glass or equivalentsupporting plate and an opaque paper or equivalent paster carried bysaid plate and bearing a trans parent legend thereon, electricilluminating means Within said housing for transmitting light consistingof a plurality of distinct colors through said translucent sign, and amirror so disposed ithin said housing as to reflect light transmittedthrough said translucent sign to the eye of an outside observer, saidelectric illuminating means comprising a plurality of electric lightingunits of different colors and means for separately regulating the flowof current to each of said electric lighting units.

8. A combined electrically illuminated day and night sign comprising, incombination, a housing, a translucent sign carried by said housing andcomprising a translucent glass or equivalent supporting plate and anopaque paper or equivalent paster carried by said plate and bearing atransparent legend thereon, electric illuminating means Within saidhousing for transmitting light consisting of a plurality of distinctcolors through said translucent sign, and a mirror so disposed Withinsaid housing as to reflect light transmitted through said translucentsign to the eye of an outside observer, said electric illuminating meanscomprising a plurality of electric lighting units of different colorsand thermostatic means for separately regulating the flow of current toeach of said electric lighting units, the ther mostatic means forseparately regulating each of said electric lighting units being .set tobe operated to make and break the circuit through the respectiveelectric lighting units at different temperatures.

9. A combined electrically illuminated day and night sign comprising,incombination, a housing, a translucent sign carried by said housing andcomprising a translucent glass or equivalent supporting plate and anopaque paper or equivalent paster carried by said plate and bearing atrans parent legend thereon, electric illuminating means Within saidhousing for transmitting light consisting of a plurality of distinctcolors through said translucent sign, and a mirror so disposed Withinsaid housing as to reflect light transmitted through said translucentsign to the eye of an outside observer, said electric illuminating meanscomprising a plurality of electric lighting units of different colorsand thermostatic means for separately regulating the flow of current toeach of said electric lighting units, the thermostatic means forseparately regulating each of said electric lighting units being set tobe operated to make and break the circuit through the respectiveelectric lighting units at different temperatures.

10. A combined electrically illuminated day and night sign comprising,in combination, a housing, a translucent sign carried by said housingand comprising a translucent glass or equivalent supporting plate and anopaque paper or equivalent paster carried by said plate and bearing atransparent legend thereon, electric illuminating means Within saidhousing for transmitting light consisting of a plurality of distinctcolors through said translucent sign, and a mirror so disposed Withinsaid housing as to reflect light transmitted through said translucentsign to the eye of an outside observer, said electric illuminating meanscomprising a plurality of electric lighting units of diflerent colorsand thermostatic means for separately regulating the flow'of current toeach of said electric lighting units, the thermostatic means forseparately regulating each of said electric lighting units being set tobe operated to make and break the circuit through the respectiveelectric lighting units at different time intervals.

11. A combined electrically illuminated day and night sign comprising,in combination, a housing, a translucent sign carried by said housingand comprising a translucent glass or equivalent supporting plate and anopaque paper or equivalent paster carried by said plate and bearing atransparent legend thereon, electric illuminating means Within saidhousing for transmitting light consisting of a plurality of distinctcolors through said translucent sign, and a mirror so disposed Withinsaid housing as to reflect light transmitted through said translucentsign to the eye of an outside observer, said electric illuminating meanscomprising a plurality of electric lighting units of different colorsand thermostatic means for separately regulating the flow of current toeach of said electric lighting units, the thermostatic means forseparately regulating each of said electric lighting units being set tobe operated to make and break the circuit through the respectiveelectric lighting units at difl'erent time intervals.

12. A combined electrically illuminated day and night sign comprising,in combination, a housing, a translucent sign carried by said housingand comprising a translucent glass or equivalent supporting plate and anopaque paper or equivalent paster carried by said plate and bearing atransparent legend thereon, electric illuminating means Within saidhousing" for transmitting light consisting of a plurality of distinctcolors through said translucent sign, and a mirror so disposed Withinsaid housing as to reflect light transmitted through said translucentsign to the eye of an outside observer, said electric illuminating meanscomprising a plurality ofelectric lighting units of different colors andthermostatic means for separately regulating the floW of current to eachof said electric lighting units,

the thermostatic means for separately regulating each of said electriclighting units being set to be operated to make and break 'the circuitthrough the respective electric lighting units at different timeintervals and at different temperatures.

In testimony, whereof, I have signed my name to this specification thisth day of September, 1928. )0 ALFRED O. KELLOGG;

